City of Basketball Love

By Josh Verlin (@jmverlin) +
Owen McCue (@Owen_McCue)
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MANALAPAN + NEPTUNE, N.J. — The Hoop Group’s Jersey Jam Fest brought together a whole lot of talent to the Jersey Shore this weekend. Programs from the Nike, Under Armour and Adidas circuits came together along with those from the Hoop Group’s own circuit for a weekend of competition, as teams prepare for the first grassroots live period in mid-May. 

The CoBL staff was in attendance during 16U games on Saturday and Sunday at the MultiSports Kingdom in Manalapan as as well as during some 17U competition on Sunday at the Hoop Group headquarters in Neptune; 

Here’s who stood out over the course of the weekend:

Chris Abreu (2027 | WeR1 UAA 16U)
Abreu had a strong all-around game for WeR1 in a close loss to Team Final, the 6-3 guard from Cherry Hill East stuffing the stat sheet with 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals, asserting himself well in a high-level contest. Abreu showed great body control when attacking the bucket, able to avoid contact or finish through it while always keeping his shoulders square and getting a clean look at the rim, no matter from what angle he was attacking. 

Chuma Achufusi (2027 | Team AKT HGSL 16U)
Achufusi drilled five of his team’s 11 triples in an 82-56 win over Team Iverson early Sunday. The 6-5 lefty guard, who claims a 6-10 wingspan, finished with 25 points and four assists in the victory, displaying some chemistry with Episcopal (Va.) teammate Simas Kaceraucker. His smooth stroke was effective inside the arc as well, including a pretty turnaround jumper. His long arms helped him finish over defenders a few times on the drive and could help him guard multiple positions.

Brandon Arnold (2026 | Crown Basketball HGSL 17U)
Arnold was all-around impressive for Crown in a win over the NJ Beasts on Sunday. The 6-3 guard who goes to Kimball Union (N.H.) was a mature and well-rounded scorer as he tallied 15 points on just eight shots (5-8 FG, 1-3 3PT, 4-4 FT), showing some great post footwork on one bucket and great form on his jumper on others; he also had a strong take and finish with his left hand. Arnold’s play-making was also on display as he dished out six assists, rounding out his box score with five rebounds. 

Bradford Berwick (2026 | PSB Philly 17U)
It was a fun battle of big men on Sunday morning, with Berwick leading the way for PSB Philly in a game against the NJ Beasts’ HGAL squad. The 6-6 forward, a junior at Delco Christian, scored 22 points, with four rebounds, two assists and two blocks; he knocked down four 3-pointers on eight attempts, hitting catch-and-shoot jumpers from various points on the perimeter, and also posted up and converted on a few baby hooks, while showing good footwork on a couple other moves in the paint. 

Colt Busse (2027 | WeR1 UAA 16U)
Busse was bussin’ on Saturday afternoon for WeR1. The 6-3 guard from Maryland, a talented left-hander with a smooth outside shot, showed off his ability to play point guard and off the ball in a 14-point, five-assist, four-steal outing in a two-point loss to Team Final. Busse’s court vision and passing ability really stood out as he made some tough passes, on the move, all right on the mark, showing he was thinking a step ahead and creating easy shots for his teammates; he even had a few that didn’t go for assists, like a great bounce pass between two defenders to get his team upcourt. He also showed he can score in a variety of ways, knocking down a floater and a mid-range pull-up along with two 3-pointers.

Jacob Canton (2027 | PSA Cardinals EYBL 16U)
The 6-2 guard from Rutgers Prep (N.J.) displayed a terrific vision of the court as he tallied nine points and seven assists in a 61-31 win over Shoreshots HGSL squad. Canton looked to push up the ball in transition as well as swing to the corner or across the court in the halfcourt. He’s an explosive athlete, as highlighted by a transition jam and a two-handed oop he tossed down with conviction.

Anderson Diaz (2027 | NY Rens EYBL 16U)
The 6-foot-2 point guard from Lawrence Woodmere Academy (N.Y.) first wowed the CoBL staff back in 2023 playing with Kipps Mustangs’ 17U team before he even entered high school. His game has continued to soar, turning himself into a nationally ranked process. Diaz can dazzle every time he touches the ball, whether it’s with his tight handle, bouncy athleticism, shooting or finishing ability. He had 15 points to go along with three assists and three steals in a 56-49 win over NJ Panthers HGSL on Sunday, also showing off his toughness by taking a charge. He’s a capable floor general who runs the show, but can also change the game on either end with his athletic traits.

Korey Francis (2027 | Team Final EYBL 16U)
In an environment that all-too-easily encourages players to do things they might not necessarily attempt during the high school season, Francis stood out during Final’s win over WeR1 UAA on Saturday afternoon by keeping it simple. The 6-3 guard from Bonner-Prendergast was efficient with his shots and his dribbles, keeping the ball moving within the flow of the offense and picking his spots carefully. And when he did, he was on: Francis finished with 17 points on 6-of-11 from the floor, including 4-of-8 from downtown, along with four rebounds and three steals, including a smooth ‘and-one’ layup down the stretch.

Silas Graham (2027 | K-Low Elite 3SSB 16U)
New team for Graham this year as he joins an impressive K-Low 16U group, but the 6-4 guard from the Haverford School continues to have his usual well-rounded impact on the game. In an overtime win over the PSA Cardinals, Graham racked up 13 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two blocks, making his presence felt in all aspects; he was especially impressive on the glass against a big PSA squad, constantly high-pointing boards and securing them; his two blocks were both impressive athletic plays as well. 

Malachi Hudson (2027 | NY Lightning HGSL 16U)
A physical 6-1 combo guard, Hudson played downhill and assertive for the NY Lightning on Saturday in a game against WeR1’s HGSL squad, finishing with 13 points along with four assists, three rebounds and two steals. He showed good creativity with his passing, including a perfect lob over the top of a defender to a cutting teammate for a layup, and generally played like a running back, his center of gravity low to the ground as he weaved his way around defenders to get to the rim; he was also a strong on-ball defender.

Kam Jackson (2027 | Philly Pride UAA 16U)
Jackson is fun to watch with the ball in his hands. The 5-9 guard from Bonner-Prendergast has the ball on a string with both hands, and he can toy with defenders as he picks his spots to attack, dish, pull-up, or get through the defense and come out the other side if things don’t materialize. He dodged, ducked, dipped and dived his way to 15 points against NJ Panthers HGSL 16s, while adding five rebounds, four assists and two steals to his effort. Though getting to the rim and finishing is his strongest suit, he also knocked down back-to-back catch-and-shoot 3-pointers in the second half. 

Simas Kacerauskas (2027 | Team AKT HGSL 16U)
Kacerauskas had a double-double by halftime before finishing with 25 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists, a steal and a two-handed rejection. He used both skill and strength to put together the dominant outing. His first bucket came off a between the legs crossover into a pretty spin move to his off hand.  While the spin to his right was the go-to move for the lefthander, he was just as adept at carving out space for himself and finishing with his dominant hand. He helped his teammates get going as well, kicking out to the open shooters on the perimeter.

Oscar Martinez (2027 | NJ Panthers HGSL 16U)
Martinez finished with 15 points, five rebounds and two steals in Sunday’s tight loss against the Rens’ EYBL squad. The 6-foot-5 guard/wing from St. Peter’s Prep made some big buckets late to get his team back in the game. He knocked down a pair of triples and showed he can shoot on the move with one dribble pull-up. He set the tone early when he went up for a jam in traffic against a sizeable Rens frontcourt. His length stood out as a deterrent on defense, adding a steal and a block to his stat line.

Damian Mojica (2028 | Wiz Kids 3SSB 16U)
A 6-5 forward from NYC, Mojica just announced he’s repeating his freshman year at the Masters School (N.Y) in the NEPSAC, where he’s got the physicality to handle a high level of play from the get-go. Mojica’s got the body of a space-eating forward, with wide shoulders and hips, but he’s got nimble feet, strong handles and soft touch to play like a guard, making him quite a mis-match issue for opponents. He had 12 points, nine rebounds, two assists and a block in a win over BW Elite’s 16s on Saturday, showcasing all of the above on a couple strong takes to the rim as well as a couple post-up buckets and a jumper or two.

Marquis Newson (2027 | Team Final EYBL 16U)
Newson’s slashing ability was on display on Saturday afternoon in Team Final’s win over WeR1’s UAA squad. The 6-4 guard from Academy New Church led Final with 18 points, almost all by his ability to attack the rim in either transition or the half-court; he did a great job of getting to two feet in the lane and using his stellar bounce and body control to work for a look at the rim, and he finished more often than not; he also helped himself by grabbing five of his seven rebounds on the offensive end and turned his four steals into some easy offense as well.

Greyson Pierce (2027 | PSA Cardinals EYBL 16U)
Pierce, a 6-7 wing/forward set to play at St. Thomas More (Conn.) next year, finished with a team-high 19 points in Sunday’s win over NJ Shoreshots HGSL. Pierce was efficient both inside and outside. He showed off his versatility by knocking down three triples. He also scored from down on the block and out in transition. Pierce also seemed to have a good feel for the floor on both ends, getting himself into good positions to score the ball on offense and barking out to teammates from the back line on defense.

Isiah Rose (2026 | Crown Basketball HGSL 17U)
One of the main recipients of Brandon Arnold’s six assists was Isiah Rose, who led Crown in its win over the NJ Beasts with a 24-point, eight-rebound effort, grabbing four of those on the offensive end. The 6-8 forward out of Vermont Academy (Vt.) has a terrific ability to catch-and-shoot from the perimeter, knocking down four triples on six attempts with a quick trigger and a high release point, but he’s also able to attack the hoop off the bounce, was controlling the glass at both ends and has the physicality and athleticism to defend the rim and muscle his way to the hoop. 

Dwayne Ruffin (2028 | New Heights 3SSB 15U)
Playing with a group from New York and going up against plenty of familiar faces in Team Final, Ruffin was an absolute defensive pest for New Heights, racking up nearly as many steals (eight) as points (nine) as he was a menace on and off the ball. Ruffin had a few outright strips of Final ball-handlers that he took the other way, while also playing free safety a couple times in the full-court press and picking off passes. A strong ball-handler who’s tough to throw off balance, Ruffin also dribbled his way through the defense on a number of times to make plays, getting to the line three different times and otherwise finishing around the hoop on a few occasions. 

Demere Salisbery (2028 | Team Final EYBL 15U)
Team Final’s 15s looked good as a unit in a six-point win over New Heights on Saturday morning — sure, there was a late push by New Heights to turn what had been a blowout by Final into a tight one, but the youngsters from the Philly area were locked in for a good 22 minutes. Salisbury wasn’t the leading scorer on the day with seven points, but he was definitely a sparkplug; the bouncy 6-2 point guard and son of Temple standout Dustin Salisbery impressed with his ability to handle full-court press by himself, getting downhill once he got across halfcourt and then making plays, racking up four assists, a steal, and a big-time block along with three of his four rebounds coming on the offensive end. 

Luke Schorr (2026 | NJ Panthers HGSL 17U)
We’ve seen Schorr enough to know he can shoot the ball. The Union Catholic (N.J.) senior, who’s going to do a post-grad year at Hotchkiss School (Conn.), has been doing that for UC and the Panthers at all sorts of area events for the last few years; the 6-3 wing was at it again on Sunday, going 5-for-5 from deep against BW Elite, including four in what seemed like a two-minute span in the second half, the last one on a dribble to his left and from about NBA right. But what especially earned him a spot here was his physical play on the glass, grabbing seven rebounds and often starting the fast break, with two steals and two assists as well.

Troy Strelec (2026 | NJ Beasts HGAL 17U)
The aforementioned post battle that Bradford Berwick was engaged in was with Strelect, a 6-6 post from Hackettstown (N.J.), who impressed with a 20-point, nine-rebound effort of his own. Strelec was a fundamental big man who scored in a variety of ways, defended the post and won the rebounding battle inside; he had a sold back-down for a layup, threw in a couple spin moves that showed he could finish with both hands, and also pick-and-popped out for a couple 3-pointers. Strelec also did a good job playing physical, getting to the line five different times. 

Honorable Mention
L.J. Armstrong (2027 | PSB Philly HGAL 16U), Jaren Barnett (2026 | NJ Beasts HGSL 17U), Lis Binishi (2027 | NJ Panthers HGSL 16U), Mark Brown (2027 | WeR1 UAA 16U), Logan Chwastyk (2028 | Team Final EYBL 15U), Jacob Evans (2027 | NY Lightning HGSL 16U), Gerald Ewell (2026 | NJ Beasts HGSL 17U), Nyeire Farlow (2027 | WeR1 HGSL 16U), Sean Forbes (2028 | New Heights 3SSB 15U), Seth Gaye (2027 | Team Iverson HGSL 16U), Donnie Gregory (2026 | NJ Beasts HGSL 17U), Munir Greig (2027 | PSA Cardinals EYBL 16U) Micah Gordon (2027 | PSA Cardinals EYBL 16U), Eli Hemmings (2027 | Philly Pride UAA 16U), Akim Iscandari (2026 | Team AKT HGSL 17U), Horace Jackson (2027 | Team Iverson HGSL 16U), Owen Kelly (2026 | Team Iverson HGSL), Rocco Loomis (2027 | NJ Panthers HGSL 16U), Tyree Martin (2026 | Philly Elite 17U), Julian McKie (2028 | Team Final EYBL 15U), Matt Mikulka (2026 | NJ Panthers HGSL 17U), K’Naan Morris (2027 | Wiz Kids 3SSB 16U), Nick Nsenkyire (2026 | NJ Panthers HGSL 17U), Max Okebata (2027 | Philly Pride UAA 16U), Kyler Pickron (2027 | WeR1 HGSL 16U), Rowan Phillips (2028 | Team Final EYBL 15U), Joshua Rivera (2027 | NY Rens EYBL 16U),  Jordan Shaffer (2026 | NEPA Elite HGSL 17U), AJ Stewart (2027 | K-Low Elite 3SSB 16U), Jazmir Taylor (2026 | NJ Beasts HGAL), MJ Thompson (2027 | K-Low Elite 3SSB 16U), Rocco Westfield (2026 | Team Iverson HGSL), DeShawn Yates (2026 | Team Iverson HGSL)